all the time i have pirated i have never let a whale go never it is die or pay, Container Transport it is a very big fight a long time if u are in a fighter good chance to get away if u are in a Container Transport,
avd. train dont got a chance vs a bomber or gunboats, small chance to win vs fighter but with the more cargo and the more money u can hire an escort
Since my previous post, I have flown the whale - and I love it - very manueverable.
I have also flown the Mining Ship. Turns better than an adv. train, and doesn't get stuck as often in trade lanes. But it is a disaster in a mine field. It is so wide it hits everything in the mine field. Ironic that the mining ship cannot fly thru a mine field! The Mining Ship's strength - 11 turrets - and at any given time 8 are firing. Level 12 and lower NPC's evaporate.
Also just started flying the Heavy Tanker. Turns are slow, but better than the adv. train. I haven't flown it thru a thick asteroid field yet, but it does well thru medium dense fields.